Line Level Output Denon AVR-E300

[bradleypnw]

My Denon AVR-E300 does not have pre-outs. I'd like to add pre-outs so I can use the receiver as a line source for my active speakers.

Is there a way to bypass the amplifiers to create pre-outs?

The digital board with the DACs has a plug that might be a candidate. Also, the amplifier board has white plugs next to the pots. Are those pre-amp line sources Denon built in but didn't connect because they saved them for their higher end receivers?

As an amplifier this receiver is useless to me. If I could remove the entire amplifier and just run the receiver as pre-out/pre-amp only I'd be a happy clam.

 

[bradleypnw]

Here are the digital and amplifier boards from the Denon-E300 service manual. I'm a total know-nothing when it comes to electronics so I don't know if these images help answer the question of how to extract pre-outs from the receiver.

 

[bradleypnw]

There service manual for the E300 is also used for the AVR-X1000 and AVR-X1010. The AVR-X1000 and X1010 expose pre-outs.

 

[bradleypnw]

Apparently, the white sockets next to the pots are test points, not sockets for pre-out channels.

 

[bradleypnw]

Turned out to be easy. All I did was pull straight off the 5.1 channel connector. No other modifications. It's possible

If late model low end home theater receivers have good quality DACs then this is an easy and cheap way to get pre-outs.

Now I need to figure out if it's worth it to unpower the internal amp. It would take some work because there's an automatic shut-off switch if the AVR thinks something is wrong with the amplification board. But maybe it's an easy modification for someone who understands electronics.

 

[dkfan9]

To what active speakers are you running the new pre outs?

 

[bradleypnw]

Active CBT arrays.

 

[dkfan9]

Cool stuff, I'd like to take on something similar when I get the time, money, and balls... What electronics is the AVR feeding? Or more specifically, what are the input impedance and voltage sensitivity of the CBT's inputs? Those two numbers can help determine how much turning the amp off might help.